David Furnish revealed on January 6, 2010 he and Elton will still become “fathers” to a baby they tried to adopt even though their application was refused.

The couple tried in September 2009 to become the legal guardians of Lev, an HIV-positive 17-month-old boy they met while they were touring an orphanage in Ukraine. The eastern European nation's government said that, at 62, Elton was too old to adopt. Under the country's rules, there must be no more than 45 years difference in age between adoptive parents and the child. Ukraine family minister Yuriy Pavlenko also declared that gay couples were judged not suitable to adopt children under his country's law.

But, in an interview with Closer magazine, David said they were buying a home for Lev in his native country and have pledged to send regular financial help. The couple will also travel to the former Soviet country throughout the year to spend time looking after him. David said: “We are going to find a home for those boys in the Ukraine. We will get them a home as it would be a long uphill battle to bring them over here.”

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